Saturn V and Apollo program

Saturn V was US expendable rocket used by NASA between the years 1967 and 1973. The three stage super heavy lift launch vehicle was developed to support the Apollo program (see articles Apollo program, The Space Race, all together), and later it launch also Skylab, the first US space station. The Saturn V was launched 13 times, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Saturn V remains the only launch vehicle which carried manned crews to the outer space, beyond the Earth orbit. All together 15 vehicles ready to fly were built, from which was 13 used for launch. 3 vehicles were used for testing purposes.

Apollo 17: The last one

Saturn V was designed under the direction of Wernher von Braun and Arthur Rudolph. Saturn V's design originated from the Jupiter series rockets.

The C-1 was developed into the Saturn I and C-2 rocket dropped out due to C-3 design. C-3 was planned as a part of Earth orbit rendezvous (EOR), but even bigger C-4 crossed the plans. C-4 needed only 2 launches to carry EOR lunar mission, instead 5 launched of previous C-3. In January 1962, NASA came with plan for C-5, three stage rocket consisting of S-IC first stage (having 5 F-1 engines), S-II second stage (having 5 J-2 engines)  and S-IVB third stage (having single J-2 engine). 

C-5 was the choice for the Apollo program and it was named as Saturn V. C-1 became the Saturn I, C-1B became Saturn IB. Also version C-5N (nuclear version) was considered with small nuclear thermal stage in place of S-IVB oxygen/hydrogen stage. It was intended for the manned mission to Mars.

Saturn V vs. Soviet N1

The first stage S-IC was built by the Boeing company and most of the mass at launch was propellant, RP-1 fuel with liquid oxygen. It was powered by 5 Rocketdyne F-1 engines arranged into form of square with one in the centre in fixed position. The other 4 engines were able to steer the rocket when needed. The centre engine was turned off 26 seconds earlier than the outer engines to limit acceleration.

The second stage S-II was built by the North American Aviation. It was using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. It had 5 Rocketdyne J-2 engines in the same way as the first stage, also using the outer engines for the control. The second stage accelerated the Saturn V through the upper atmosphere. 

The third stage S-IVB was built by Douglas Aircraft Company. IT had single J-2 engine and used the same fuel as the second stage. S-IVB served as the third stage on the Saturn V and second stage on the Saturn IB. The main difference was that for lunar missions it was fired twice: first for the orbit insertion after second stage cut off, and then for translunar injection (TLI). Douglas company built 2 versions of the S-IVB: 200 series and 500 series. S-IVB 500 series were used for the Apollo program. S-IVB-200 series were used for example in case of Apollo-Soyuz Test Project and to launch Skylab. 

During the lunar missions: Apollo 13, Apollo 14, Apollo 15, Apollo 16, and Apollo 17 the S-IVB stages were crashed into the lunar surface to perform seismic measurements to study the lunar interior. 

Nice cut through Saturn V to show the stages and Apollo spacecraft